The Home Design of the Future

The new home of the time ahead.

The Home Design of the Future

The new home of the time ahead.

My future home will consist of 4 bedrooms, with 2 bathrooms and a powder room, all within 2 floors and a basement. The living room, dining room, kitchen and powder room will take up one floor, while the bedrooms and the 2 bathrooms will all be situated on the second floor. There will also be a garage for my smart car.

4 bedrooms

2 bathrooms + 1 powder room

A basement

4 bedrooms

2 bathrooms + 1 powder room

A basement

MY ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

By thinking in an Eco-friendly way, as I design my future home, I am making every aspect of my home energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Doing this will surely reduce my ecological footprint, which will bring me closer to a better, brighter future.

SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS

1. How would you create a "green" environment around your home? Which plants should you include in your design? Why?

My future home would be situated in the temperate deciduous forest, as it has a longer growing season, allowing me to grow and harvest much of my crops. Building my home in this biome would provide me with plenty of oxygen as it consists of a variety of plants and trees, much like: lichen, moss, ferns, coniferous trees (evergreen trees) etc. Within my home design, I would include ferns and coniferous trees, so that I am supplied with plenty of oxygen. In addition, I would also grow a couple of flowers, such as, carnations and daisies in the spring, as they provide a beautiful scenery.

2. What plants would you "farm" in your vegetable garden? Why? What types of pesticides and fertilizers (if any) would you use in your garden? Are there any you would avoid? Explain.

I would farm: carrots, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, mushrooms and much more in my vegetable garden. I chose these vegetables because they are simply the basics when it comes to cooking or making a sandwich. To increase the growing period, I would use a natural fertilizer, rather than a synthetic fertilizer, which would include chemicals that harm the environment. Natural fertilizers consist of plant and animal wastes that help crops grow faster. Although, they may not be as effective as synthetic fertilizers, they are much better for the environment, as they do not harm the living things that live in the soil. As long as I cause less harm to our planet Earth, then I wouldn't mind waiting a couple extra days for my crops to completely grow.

3. What mode of transportation would you choose to park in my driveway? Why?

I would choose to drive a smart car as my mode of transportation because it relies on the sun's energy for it to run. This will ensure that I do not harm the environment, as much as I would have if I drove a Honda Civic, Hummer or any other regular car that relies on gasoline. Although I may not be able to use this after sunset, I can always take public transportation to get from place to place. In addition, I would also include a bicycle as my way of going around on those hot summer days, where I just need to cool off. Riding a bike is also a fun way to throw in my daily exercise throughout my day.

4. What types of waste management would you include in your home design?

In my home design, I would include: a blue bin (for plastic packaging, glass containers, aluminum/steel cans), grey bin (for items like paper materials) and a green bin (a.k.a compost bin used for food waste). Including these 3 bins within my home for different types of garbage will ensure that my ecological footprint will decrease as it prevents me from producing more waste. For paper that can still be used, I would place them in a GOOS bin (Good On One Side). I would put this bin in the living room, and other bedrooms all around the house, so that if ever there is still paper that has been used, but can still be used again, then it can just be placed in the GOOS bin. By doing this, i can continue to recycle all throughout my Eco-friendly house.

5. What endangered species would your family sponsor at your local zoo? Why?

My family would sponsor the Amur leopard at my local zoo, as it is critically endangered. According to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) there are approximately ONLY 30 individuals across the world. Humans hunt them down to get a hold of their luxurious, beautiful fur, much like how they hunt the snow leopard for the same reason. By sponsoring one, I can protect it from the harm of ruthless humans out to kill them.

ATOMS, ELEMENTS, AND COMPOUNDS

1. Research three chemicals found in your home which can be toxic to humans or your pets.

Bleach/Clorox

Acetone Nail Polish Remover

CLR (Calcium Lime Rust)

Bleach/Clorox

Acetone Nail Polish Remover

CLR (Calcium Lime Rust)

2. Choose one of the chemicals and identify the elements which make up this chemical. Choose one of these elements and draw the Bohr-Rutherford diagram for it.

Bleach (sodium hypochlorite - NaClO) is consists of these elements:

Sodium - Na

Chlorine - Cl

Oxygen - O

The Bohr-Rutherford diagram for chlorine (Cl).

17 protons

18 neutrons

3. Which group or chemical family of the Periodic Table is this element located in?

Chlorine (Cl) is located in group 17 and is part of the Halogens family in the Periodic Table.

4. Is your chosen element a metal, non-metal or metalloid?

My chosen element, chlorine (Cl) is a non-metal as its original form is in the gaseous state.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRICITY

1. What type of electrical energy source will you use for your home? How sustainable is your choice of energy source for future generations?

As a source of energy, I would use solar panels, in comparison to wind turbines. Wind turbines are extremely location sensitive. If they were to be installed in an area of tall trees and busy roads, then it will be exposed to turbulence. However, when placed near the coast or where smooth air is detectible, then it will surely be effective. Solar panels, on the other hand, rely on solar power (energy from the sun) to produce energy. Therefore, wherever I may live in the temperate deciduous forest, I can still have a source of energy as the sun shines everywhere. By using solar panels as a source of energy not only do I save money, but I can aslso reduce my ecological footprint, as they produce less waste.

2. What types of physical structres make a house more energy efficient? How can you design a home that will reduce wasted energy?

To make a house more energy efficient, insulation can be added to the exterior walls, ceilings, attics, basements, in framed floors and heating and cooling ducts. By using effective insulation, you are preventing heat loss during the winter and heat gain during the summer. Trying to keep the heat in or out of the house is very important because if they aren't controlled as to where they flow, then you might end up using too much energy than needed. New windows can also be added to make a house more energy efficient. By replacing your windows, you're not only saving plenty of money on your heating and air conditioning bills, but you are also sing less energy, as you are keeping the heat or cold in or out. Planting trees on the West side of your home will help prevent extra heat entering in the summer, and it'll also let heat come into your home during the winter.Scheduling an energy audit is also a very good idea to receive expert advice on your home.by doing this, you will surely get information about your home and how to make it more energy efficient.

I can design a home that reduces wasted energy by carefully choosing appliances and other things that save energy, rather than waste them. As I design, I must not only think about what the house might look like from the outside, but I also have to consider the inner portion of my home, as my decisions will also affect me financially. I always have to keep in mind that if what I'm buying will cost more than the actual price of purchasing it, then it isn't worth the buy.

3. What type of appliances will you choose for yur home? Explain why you have chosen these appliances.

When choosing appliances, I would select those with the energy star or EnerGuide label. By doing this, I am choosing appliances that use less energy, therefore they produce less waste. They benefit both the consumer and the environment, unlike the competing products. They ensure the consumer that they will save money by purchasing their product as it reduces its' wasted energy and does less harm to our world, at the same time.

4. What type of light bulbs would you include in your home design? Why?

To brighten up my home, I would install CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), as they waste less energy. In comparison to incandescent light bulbs, CFLs can save three-quarters of electricity used by the competing bulb. Using CFLs will not only reduce wasted energy, but it will also play a big role in the decrease of my electricity bill. Therefore, it will not only benefit me, financially, but it will also benefit the environment itself.

THE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSE

1. Include atleast two different types of technology in your future home that has been developed or researched due to space exploration. Describe how these technologies were invented.

Throughout my home, you would find a failsafe flashlight, along with smoke detectors installed in all the bedrooms in my home. Both, were originally developed for space exploration, but they eventually made its way into our everyday lives.

Failsafe Flashlight

The failsafe flashlight was developed for NASA, so that they would always have a backup for objects that hd the most important purposes. This is useful for blackouts or any situation where I may need a light source.

Smoke Detector

The smoke detector was also another technology that was first developed for space exploration. NASA used this device to detect any toxic vapours in the Earth orbiting space station, Skylab. Installing this within my kitchen and all the rooms in my home will prevent a house fire, as it will alarm once it detects smoke.

Failsafe Flashlight

NASA Logo

NASA is where most, if not all, of the technology we use today, came from.

Smoke Detector

Failsafe Flashlight

NASA Logo

NASA is where most, if not all, of the technology we use today, came from.